Chapter 470: What’s Going On?

Early the next morning, Lin Xun followed the army with She Qiqi as they advanced toward Xuanfeng City.

In truth, Lin Xun could have gone to Xuanfeng City on his own, but he thought it better to observe more.

Lin Xun wanted to see to what extent these struggles within the Ten Thousand Demon Country would develop.

Similarly, Lin Xun also wanted to see in what manner and how She Qiqi would achieve success.

Although Lin Xun knew She Qiqi wouldn’t fail and had sufficient confidence in her,

the Ten Thousand Demon Country wasn’t just a bunch of useless trash!

If She Qiqi were the only capable fighter in the Ten Thousand Demon Country, the Heavenly Frost White Snake Clan would never have ascended the imperial throne in the first place!

Therefore, She Qiqi’s rebellion this time would definitely be far from easy.

Lin Xun felt his current mindset was simply that of a spectator—the kind who watches the excitement and doesn’t mind if the trouble gets bigger… Meanwhile, Xuanfeng City was geographically located in Linjiang Province.

Although Linjiang Province wasn’t large—being the smallest major province in the Ten Thousand Demon Country—its location was right next to the gorge leading into the country.

One could say it was a strategic location contested by all military strategists.

So… for Chu Yaoyao to be able to control half of it was already quite a decent achievement.

Even after looking at the map, Lin Xun was somewhat surprised—surprised that Chu Yaoyao could actually conquer this place… Did Chu Yaoyao really have some sort of innate talent for this?

Seeing Lin Xun’s confusion, She Qiqi only smiled and said he would understand once he met Chu Yaoyao.

As the army set off with great fanfare, She Qiqi didn’t seem to be in any hurry at all.

It seemed She Qiqi was still waiting for something, as if waiting for something to arrive, though it hadn’t yet… “Forget it… it didn’t come… Let’s go… to see that Crown Prince brother of mine…”

Not seeing what she wanted to see, She Qiqi didn’t care in the slightest and directly ordered the march toward the nearby city where the Crown Prince was stationed.

She Qiqi’s army of 250,000 arrived beneath the city where the Crown Prince was stationed. She had people publicly challenge the Crown Prince, listing several of his crimes.

Whether they were true or not, She Qiqi pinned them all on the Crown Prince.

Regardless, no one was going to verify them anyway… Things had reached a point where everyone had dropped their pretenses, and She Qiqi was already a rebel.

Even if they were verified, it wouldn’t matter… Looking at She Qiqi’s army of over 200,000,

and listening to She Qiqi’s people incessantly insulting him from beneath the city walls,

the Crown Prince’s blood pressure soared.

But the Crown Prince stubbornly refused to come out.

The Crown Prince was very clear about his current situation.

He was at an absolute disadvantage in terms of both military strength and morale. If he left the city to face the enemy now, he would definitely lose.

There was no suspense about it at all.

And after having the Crown Prince thoroughly cursed out beneath the city walls,

She Qiqi didn’t forcibly attempt to storm the city.

As if she had just come to flaunt her power in front of the Crown Prince, She Qiqi withdrew her troops without doing anything else.

Looking at the massive army, the Crown Prince, who had intended to defend the city against the enemy, was suddenly stunned.

What’s going on?

Did they come all this way just to intentionally insult me?

And then they just left without doing anything?

Or does She Qiqi simply not take me seriously at all?

The Crown Prince slammed his fist against the city wall, and for a moment, his blood pressure rose even higher… “She Qiqi, you wait. Once the other armies converge, I want to see how much longer you can stay this arrogant!”

“Your Highness…”

Just as the Crown Prince was watching She Qiqi leave with a hateful yet helpless expression,

a lieutenant stepped forward and cupped his fists in a salute.

“Your Highness, looking at the direction She Qiqi is leaving, she should be heading toward Xuanfeng City.

The Fifth Prince and other generals are currently attacking Xuanfeng City.

I believe we can set out in two days and attack She Qiqi from the rear, forming a pincer movement with the generals currently attacking Xuanfeng City.”

Hearing the lieutenant’s suggestion, the Crown Prince fell into deep thought.

His blood pressure had been too high just now, and he hadn’t considered this point.

But now, he found that this plan did indeed seem feasible.

The only problem was, could She Qiqi have failed to think of this?

No, she would definitely think of such a simple strategy.

If she couldn’t even think of this, then she wouldn’t be called She Qiqi… So, she has left this opening for me now.

Could such a massive flaw be anything other than a trap?

But looking at the army that was gradually moving away… the Crown Prince also knew this was the best opportunity.

If he really missed it this time,

it would be truly difficult to find such a good opportunity again.

And if he successfully ambushed She Qiqi this time,

then She Qiqi’s army would surely suffer a heavy blow!

This would definitely be a great achievement, allowing him to completely consolidate his position as Crown Prince.

And besides… perhaps She Qiqi did this on purpose.

She Qiqi’s cunning had been heard of since the era of the chaotic times.

After all, all warfare is based on deception; She Qiqi might have anticipated his suspicion and figured he wouldn’t dare to pursue, which is why she acted this way.

Yes… thinking about it that way, it wasn’t impossible… Besides, even if things became impossible in the end, so what?

It’s not like he would be the one caught in the pincer.

If things looked bad, he could just return to this Sanhuo City!

He could defend the city, able to advance or retreat!

No matter what, the losses he would suffer would be minimal.

After thinking it over repeatedly, the Crown Prince shouted loudly:

“Pass down my orders! The army is to rest and reorganize. We set out for Xuanfeng City in three days to trap the rebels in a pincer movement!”

“Yes!” the lieutenant responded loudly, turning to leave and convey the Crown Prince’s orders!

…After leaving the city held by the Crown Prince,

She Qiqi truly headed toward Xuanfeng City in her carriage.

Not only that.

On the way to Xuanfeng City, She Qiqi also sent a letter to the Fifth Prince and the two generals currently besieging Xuanfeng City.

The letter stated that she was about to head to Xuanfeng City to support Chu Yaoyao and told them to prepare themselves quickly.

Otherwise, She Qiqi feared they would lose too miserably.

When the Fifth Prince and the other two generals attacking Xuanfeng City received this letter, they were all momentarily dumbfounded.

They couldn’t understand She Qiqi’s intention for doing this no matter how they thought about it.

Did this She Qiqi really not fear death? Did she not fear being caught in a pincer movement from the front and back?

They believed She Qiqi certainly knew about such simple strategic intentions.

This was the most basic of military taboos!

If She Qiqi didn’t even know this, she wouldn’t be called She Qiqi!

So, for She Qiqi to do this, it was highly likely she had her own plans!

If She Qiqi really had no plan, they certainly wouldn’t believe it!

In addition, She Qiqi was naturally suspicious and incredibly cunning.

During the era of the warring states, She Qiqi had a great reputation; back then, countless great generals and vassal states had fallen to her schemes.

Therefore, they dared not underestimate this letter even more.

But they couldn’t figure it out… What exactly was Chu Yaoyao’s intention?

For a time, the Fifth Prince and the three generals of the Ten Thousand Demon Country all fell into deep thought… Back in the chaotic times, some said that fighting She Qiqi was like opening a devil’s box—it was extremely painful and unbearable.

Now, they truly had that kind of feeling.

To be honest, they really didn’t want to fight She Qiqi.

But there was no way around it; the Seventh Princess had already become an enemy of the Ten Thousand Demon Country.

They had to fight She Qiqi!

Now, they finally experienced… experienced what it felt like to become She Qiqi’s enemy!

If possible, they really hoped never to be She Qiqi’s enemy again.

But they knew this was impossible; this was merely the beginning, and there would be many more dealings with She Qiqi in the future.

Then, on the second day after She Qiqi’s letter arrived,

they received a message from the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince stated his intention to perform a pincer attack on She Qiqi from the front and rear.

They certainly couldn’t say the Crown Prince’s decision was wrong.

But for some reason, they just felt something was slightly fishy.

However, in the art of war, the real and the false are intertwined, and they didn’t want to keep waiting like this.

Thus, they finally decided to coordinate with the Crown Prince’s actions and deal She Qiqi a heavy blow this time!

Three days later, She Qiqi had already arrived outside the encampment of Xuanfeng City.

At this time, the distance between She Qiqi’s army and the Fifth Prince and the other generals of the Ten Thousand Demon Country was only thirty miles.

“The whole army is to rest and reorganize. Without my order, no general is to act on their own initiative; otherwise, violators will be dealt with by military law…”

She Qiqi just stationed herself behind them like that.

Then she set up camp so peacefully… In this place, She Qiqi didn’t seem worried at all that the opponent would suddenly launch an attack.

It was as if to She Qiqi, they weren’t even worth considering… Seeing She Qiqi’s actions, the Fifth Prince and the other two generals also looked at each other in bewilderment… What was going on?

Does this She Qiqi really treat us as if we don’t exist?

She’s so relaxed—is she really not worried that we’ll perform a pincer attack?

…Meanwhile, in the City Lord’s Mansion of Xuanfeng City, looking at the intelligence that kept coming in, Chu Yaoyao’s willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Chu Yaoyao was somewhat confused about what She Qiqi’s moves were… Why would she come to Xuanfeng City, and why would she set up camp outside Xuanfeng City?

“Lord, Military Strategist Lei Luo requests an audience!”

Just as Chu Yaoyao was feeling extremely perplexed,

a maid entered the room to announce.

“Mhm, I understand. Tell him to wait a moment; I’ll be over shortly.”

Chu Yaoyao put down the documents in her hand, took off her nightgown, and changed into a capable-looking long dress for public appearances.

In the main hall of the City Lord’s Mansion, a man had already been waiting for a long time.

When the man named Lei Luo saw Chu Yaoyao walk out, his eyes lit up in an instant!

Lei Luo was the Young Lord of the Thunder Tiger Clan and was even hailed as a rare genius of the Thunder Tiger Clan seen only once in a thousand years.

Whether it was his Realm or his various strategies and schemes, they far exceeded those of ordinary people.

Although the Thunder Tiger Clan, as a former subordinate of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan, should have been loyal,

after the decline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan, the Thunder Tiger Clan basically stopped showing much loyalty to the Heavenly Frost White Snake Clan.

So, back when Chu Yaoyao went to meet with the Clan Chief of the Thunder Tiger Clan to conduct negotiations,

the Clan Chief of the Thunder Tiger Clan had actually expressed a strong refusal.

If it were Chu Jiutao, that would be one thing.

They respected the Eldest Princess of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan, Chu Jiutao.

But as for Chu Yaoyao, they didn’t believe at all that she could revive the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan.

Therefore, the Clan Chief of the Thunder Tiger Clan didn’t want his tribe to be ruined in Chu Yaoyao’s hands like that.

But it was at that moment that the Young Lord of the Thunder Tiger Clan stepped forward, expressing his belief in Chu Yaoyao.

In the end, the Young Lord of the Thunder Tiger Clan served as Chu Yaoyao’s military strategist, fighting alongside her.

One could say that Chu Yaoyao being able to conquer Xuanfeng City and having her current achievements—aside from her own hard work—was definitely due in half to Lei Luo’s assistance.

In fact, the reason Lei Luo became Chu Yaoyao’s military strategist and helped revive the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan was also half because he was in love with Chu Yaoyao.

Chu Yaoyao also understood this very well.

However, Chu Yaoyao didn’t use his feelings for her to make him work for her.

The moment Chu Yaoyao knew Lei Luo liked her, she immediately rejected him.

Chu Yaoyao stated that it was impossible for her to like him.

“If you’re only working for me because you like me, then you needn’t waste your effort.”

Those were Chu Yaoyao’s exact words.

But to Chu Yaoyao’s words, the Thunder Tiger only smiled in return.

He said that he liked Chu Yaoyao more and more.

Lei Luo stated that even if Chu Yaoyao didn’t like him, it wasn’t a problem.

Furthermore, Lei Luo also stated that he wouldn’t give up and would certainly use his actions to win Chu Yaoyao’s heart.

Moreover, Lei Luo added that his helping Chu Yaoyao wasn’t just because he liked her, but also for the sake of the Thunder Tiger Clan.

With that last point made, Chu Yaoyao had no way to drive Lei Luo away.

And Lei Luo hadn’t committed any major mistakes, so Chu Yaoyao had no reason to send him away.

In the end, Chu Yaoyao kept a certain distance from Lei Luo.

Additionally, Chu Yaoyao stated she wouldn’t be with him and that he shouldn’t waste his time.

He was merely her military strategist.

If he wanted to follow her, then if she revived the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan, the Thunder Tiger Clan would receive their due status as meritorious officials.

Lei Luo had only smiled slightly at the time, saying that was enough.

This had left Chu Yaoyao even more helpless.

“Lord… I believe we should directly launch an attack on the army of the Ten Thousand Demon Country; She Qiqi will surely respond!”

Lei Luo bowed to Chu Yaoyao and suggested.